Van Hollen Statement on Anniversary of October 7th Hamas Terrorist Attack
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack on Israel that killed over 1,200 people and took over 250 people hostage:
“Today our nation mourns in memory of one of the darkest days in recent history – October 7, 2023. I remember waking to the horrific news that morning. Only four months earlier, I had visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza, the site of one of the worst massacres committed by Hamas terrorists. On that terrible day one year ago, Hamas murdered over 1,200 people, seized over 250 hostages, and committed acts of sexual violence. People were killed in their homes, ripped from the safety of their neighborhoods, and gunned down at a music festival. Not since the Holocaust has the Jewish community suffered such terrible collective loss and pain. Today, alongside the Jewish community and the people of Israel, and those around the world who lost loved ones, we remember those men, women, and children who were killed on October 7th and the hostages who have been killed since. We also hold in our hearts the hostages who remain in captivity, including American citizens, and all their families who wake up each morning with dread about what the day might bring. Since the horrific October 7th attacks, I have met numerous times with hostage families in both the United States and Israel, and remain committed to doing what they have asked: prioritizing the return of all their loved ones and securing a ceasefire to end the war and the suffering of civilians in Gaza. I also remain committed to combating the alarming rise in antisemitism and rejecting hate in all its vile forms.
There must be no more October Sevenths. As we reflect on this dark day, let us, together, dedicate ourselves to doing what is in our power to build a more hopeful and peaceful world.”